Ask the Rabbi – TJP Newshttp://tjpnews.com
Texas Jewish Post | Since 1947Fri, 24 May 2019 20:11:47 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.10During Omer, focus on self-improvementhttp://tjpnews.com/during-omer-focus-on-self-improvement/
http://tjpnews.com/during-omer-focus-on-self-improvement/#respondThu, 23 May 2019 19:34:31 +0000http://tjpnews.com/?p=17195Dear Rabbi, Thank you for answering my recent question concerning the counting of the Omer. I was fascinated by the point you made at the end of your remarks, that one can connect, during this seven-week period, to the seven Kabbalistic sefiros. Could you please elaborate on that point? Thanks again, Marc Dear Marc, Rabbi […]

]]>http://tjpnews.com/during-omer-focus-on-self-improvement/feed/0The Omer: countdown between Passover and Shavuot, explainedhttp://tjpnews.com/the-omer-countdown-between-passover-and-shavuot-explained/
http://tjpnews.com/the-omer-countdown-between-passover-and-shavuot-explained/#respondMon, 20 May 2019 20:40:28 +0000http://tjpnews.com/?p=17174Dear Rabbi, In our Haggadah which we used for our Seder this year, it says, “On the second night of Passover, we begin counting the Omer.” No one attending our Seder had previously heard of this practice. Could you give us some insight? Sincerely, Mark Dear Mark, The Jewish people’s journey toward nationhood began on […]

]]>http://tjpnews.com/the-omer-countdown-between-passover-and-shavuot-explained/feed/0Death of patriarch prompts questionshttp://tjpnews.com/death-of-patriarch-prompts-questions/
http://tjpnews.com/death-of-patriarch-prompts-questions/#respondThu, 18 Apr 2019 19:55:23 +0000http://tjpnews.com/?p=17004Dear Rabbi, My father passed away this past year. I will be leading the family Seder this year for the first time; we are expecting 30 people. My father held a somewhat traditional Seder, which didn’t go too far in holding the interest of people our generation and younger. What points do you think should […]

]]>http://tjpnews.com/death-of-patriarch-prompts-questions/feed/0Understanding the selling of chametzhttp://tjpnews.com/understanding-the-selling-of-chametz/
http://tjpnews.com/understanding-the-selling-of-chametz/#respondThu, 11 Apr 2019 22:59:32 +0000http://tjpnews.com/?p=16978Dear Rabbi Fried, We have recently become observant, this being our first Passover kept according to strict Jewish law. We never heard about selling the “chametz” to a non-Jew before; all we knew was not to eat bread. We also learned that whatever leavened products are not sold to a non-Jew are forbidden even after […]

]]>http://tjpnews.com/understanding-the-selling-of-chametz/feed/0Passover, selling chametzhttp://tjpnews.com/passover-selling-chametz/
http://tjpnews.com/passover-selling-chametz/#respondThu, 04 Apr 2019 18:54:39 +0000http://tjpnews.com/?p=16927Dear Rabbi Fried, For the first time, this year, I intend to sell my non-Passover products to a Gentile through a rabbi. This is after attending a class where the rabbi taught that not only can we not eat leavened items on Passover, we can’t even own them (something which I never knew before — […]

]]>http://tjpnews.com/passover-selling-chametz/feed/0Pain medications for terminal patientshttp://tjpnews.com/pain-medications-for-terminal-patients/
http://tjpnews.com/pain-medications-for-terminal-patients/#respondThu, 28 Mar 2019 19:42:27 +0000http://tjpnews.com/?p=16888Dear Rabbi Fried, I recently came across an interesting moral dilemma. A terminal cancer patient in severe pain was on a very high dosage of opioids. He requested more of the medication for pain control. The physician knew that increasing the dose of the medication would mean the patient would stop breathing, and die. Yet, […]

]]>http://tjpnews.com/pain-medications-for-terminal-patients/feed/03 questions for Purimhttp://tjpnews.com/3-questions-for-purim/
http://tjpnews.com/3-questions-for-purim/#respondThu, 21 Mar 2019 20:36:10 +0000http://tjpnews.com/?p=16840Hi Rabbi, I have three questions regarding Purim: 1. I know that we have a mitzvah to make a feast on Purim because we survived the attempt of physical bodily destruction. What I don’t understand is why our celebration needs to be a drinking party? Is it perhaps a resemblance to King Ahasuerus’ party, for […]

]]>http://tjpnews.com/3-questions-for-purim/feed/0Here’s a question; do you have an answer?http://tjpnews.com/heres-a-question-do-you-have-an-answer/
http://tjpnews.com/heres-a-question-do-you-have-an-answer/#respondWed, 13 Mar 2019 22:41:44 +0000http://tjpnews.com/?p=16799Dear Friends, I would like to put before you a question I recently received, and, before I offer an answer, I would be interested in challenging the readers to get your feedback and thoughts about the following query. I’m looking forward to your responses! – Rabbi Yerachmiel Fried, yfried@sbcglobal.net Hi Rabbi, I understand there is […]

]]>http://tjpnews.com/heres-a-question-do-you-have-an-answer/feed/0Beyond treif symbolism, pork has added significancehttp://tjpnews.com/beyond-treif-symbolism-pork-has-added-significance/
http://tjpnews.com/beyond-treif-symbolism-pork-has-added-significance/#respondWed, 06 Mar 2019 23:15:50 +0000http://tjpnews.com/?p=16761Dear Rabbi, I’ve often wondered, if there are many animals which are forbidden by Jewish dietary laws, such as horses, dogs, cats and many others, then why is pork considered the classic symbol of “treif”? Is there something more “treif” about pork than all the others? – Shawn P. Dear Shawn, Sorry, I can’t resist! […]

]]>http://tjpnews.com/beyond-treif-symbolism-pork-has-added-significance/feed/0Understanding abortion in the Torah and Talmudhttp://tjpnews.com/understanding-abortion-in-the-torah-and-talmud/
http://tjpnews.com/understanding-abortion-in-the-torah-and-talmud/#respondThu, 28 Feb 2019 20:17:14 +0000http://tjpnews.com/?p=16738Dear Rabbi Fried, It has been my understanding that Orthodox Judaism is pro-life, and abortions are prohibited. Yet, I recently learned about an Orthodox woman who was granted permission by her rabbis to have an abortion. What is the Orthodox view on abortion? Jessica M. Dear Jessica, The recent passing of the New York abortion […]